DigiSmart®

MEDIA RELEASE

13th March 2017

Sheila Hancock applauds DigiSmart children in Kent

Children and staff at All Saints Church of England Primary School in Chatham were bowled over when famous actor and author Sheila Hancock paid a visit.

Sheila is Patron of DigiSmart, a programme helping struggling or reluctant readers to engage with literacy through their love of technology.

Sheila joined a group of Year 5 and 6 youngsters who were using the DigiSmart literacy boosting app.

Building self-esteem as well as literacy is at the heart of the DigiSmart approach and something about which Sheila feels very strongly.

“I believe every child has it in them to succeed. It’s so important for children to keep trying and not to accept less than their best,” she explained. “The children weren’t satisfied until they did as well as they could. One boy got 98% and carried on until he got 100%. It was so impressive to see such staying power.”

The app focuses on fundamental reading skills that help children make sense of pages of words, find information and improve their comprehension.

“I’ve learnt that I can get good scores and that, if I’ve done it once, I can do it again!’ said one of the pupils.

“DigiSmart has helped me at secondary school,” said a former student who had returned to help the children taking part in the session. “Skimming and scanning for information quickly has been an important skill, plus presenting my work gave me the confidence to explain things to others.”

Sheila is passionate about the importance of education and is a very hands-on Patron: “Children need praise but also challenge. DigiSmart gives them plenty of that.”